Stop Writer's Block Today: Start a Side Project You Will Finish Now
Farid BAHRI
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2 Books to find your balance
As a beginner fiction writer, you’ve encountered writer's block.
It feels paralyzing, leaving you staring blankly at the page, waiting for inspiration to strike.
What if I told you there’s a way to break free from that stagnation?
The answer lies in starting a side project—a second book you will commit to finishing.
This approach can not only rejuvenate your creativity but also accelerate the completion of your first book.
The Power of this Side Project
When you embark on a second writing project, you explore new ideas without the pressure that accompanies your primary work.
This second book serve as a testing ground for various elements of storytelling: character interactions, worldbuilding, and even alternate endings.
By allowing yourself this creative outlet, you can experiment, which will enrich your first book.
Why This Always Works
It reduces pressure.
Writing your first book can feel like a monumental task.
By starting a second project, you can alleviate some of that pressure.
This side project becomes a space to play, making it easier to return to your main manuscript with fresh eyes.
It allows experimentation.
The second book gives you a chance to test out new narrative techniques or character dynamics.
If a specific interaction or plot twist doesn’t work in this new project, you can adjust it in your first book without the fear of ruining it.
It give you momentum.
Completing a project—no matter its size—can be incredibly motivating.
The satisfaction of finishing your second book will give you the momentum to tackle your first one with renewed energy.
A Step-by-Step Plan to Start Your Second Book
1. Define Your 2 Concepts complementarily
Imagine a world where magic is tied to the changing seasons.
Your first book could focus on a protagonist who discovers their latent magical abilities during a summer festival.
For your second book, consider exploring a different character—perhaps a winter mage—who must navigate intrigue in a frost-covered kingdom.
The different climate is an allegory, for their behavior and also how the book will end.
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2. Set 2 Goals
Aim to write 350-400 pages for your second book, targeting a completion timeline of three months.
Break this down further: write 6 pages per day.
Alternatively, you could set a goal of completing one chapter every two weeks, ensuring you stay consistent while keeping the project manageable.
3. Create 2 Outlines and Compare their Pace
Sketch out 2 comparable outlines that includes:
4. Schedule Writing Time
Allocate specific times each week for writing.
For instance, you might decide to write every day at 7 PM for 90 minutes.
Treat these sessions like meetings with your best friend.
5. Experiment Freely
In your second book, you will experiment with different narrative perspectives.
Perhaps write some chapters from the point of view of an antagonist or a minor character, allowing you to explore their motivations and feelings.
This can provide fresh insights that you can integrate into your first book's narrative.
List 12 Twists you would not try in your main book and use them in your second book.
6. Review and Reflect
After completing your second book, take a week off.
Leave this week for your beta-readers to give you feedback.
Focus on their criticism of the differences between books.
Once you return, read it through and note how the character dynamics and worldbuilding choices differ from your first book.
Reflect on questions like: What new elements enhanced the story?
How did your understanding of magic evolve? Use these insights to refine your first manuscript, ensuring both stories are cohesive and compelling.
Get back your motivation
The relationship between your two books is symbiotic.
The insights gained from the second project enhance your first, making it more nuanced.
As you practice what you’ve learned, you’ll find that you are progressing in your writing journey and nurturing your creative spirit.
Don’t let writer's block hinder your progress.
Embrace the idea of a side project as a powerful tool to invigorate your writing process.
By committing to a second book with the intention to finish it, you’ll find new pathways to creativity that ultimately lead to the completion of both projects.